Ask Margaret
The town of Gulfport was originally
known as Disston City during the
West Coast of Florida’s early days of
wilderness and isolation. The town
seemed fated for obscurity because of
transportation obstacles. The steamship
that once had connected it to other areas
caught fire and sank. In addition, when
the railroad finally came to the area,
the trains, which might have replaced
the ship, went to St. Petersburg and
bypassed the little village. Later, plans
to develop Disston City and to rename it
Veteran City, or “Vetran” City, to attract
veterans of the Civil War, failed as well.
by Margaret Word Burnside
What can you tell me about the large,
domed, waterfront building in the
charming little town of Gulfport?
A.T., Tampa
You must be thinking of the Gulfport Casino Ballroom. It sits on
Boca Ciega Bay at 5500 Shore Boulevard at the end of Beach Boulevard
in what, I agree, is a very charming little town located between
St. Petersburg and South Pasadena.
The Gulfport Casino Ballroom that you admired has been referred
to as the “jewel” or the “heart and hub” of Gulfport, and has been
earning that designation since its origin. It is actually not the original,
but is the third Gulfport Casino to be erected on or near that location.
Each Casino played an important role in the history, progress and
development of the town.
Before we go any further, I need to point out that the Gulfport Casino
is not and never was a gambling venue, with the possible exception
of a casino-themed fundraiser or special event held there. When it
was originally built and named over a hundred years ago, the Italian
term “casino” referred to a building used for the purpose of social
gatherings or meetings. “Casino” gambling didn’t even come to mind
until gaming venues, such as those in Las Vegas, appeared years later.
The third 1934 Casino, which is a sturdier
version of the second, has undergone
several renovations to become today’s
popular Gulfport Casino Ballroom.
GRAM
124 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2015